FARMINGTON – The California Highway Patrol called out its helicopter Tuesday night to use a heat-seeking device to locate a speeding driver who had abandoned his girlfriend and his car in a pasture and covered himself in mud in a drainage ditch to evade capture.

The Record

FARMINGTON – The California Highway Patrol called out its helicopter Tuesday night to use a heat-seeking device to locate a speeding driver who had abandoned his girlfriend and his car in a pasture and covered himself in mud in a drainage ditch to evade capture.

The CHP arrested Jimmy Blake Terry, 26, of Murphys, an active parolee, and booked him into San Joaquin County Jail on suspicion of felony evading, resisting arrest and driving on a suspended license.

The incident began shortly after midnight Tuesday when Terry, driving a 2000 Audi, was clocked going faster than 90 miles per hour down Jack Tone Road in eastern San Joaquin County. CHP officers pursued him for more than 15 miles, heading east on Highway 4 into Stanislaus County at speeds in excess of 100 mph, before Terry drove into a pasture and the Audi became disabled.

Terry fled on foot, leaving behind a passenger, Crystal Anne Towle, 24, of Stockton, described as Terry’s girlfriend. She was detained while CHP officers from the Stockton and San Andreas offices along with Angels Camp police set up a perimeter to search for Terry.

After 25 minutes, the helicopter arrived and located Terry attempting to hide in a drainage ditch approximately two miles from where he abandoned his car.

Towle also was arrested on suspicion of providing false information to a peace officer.